From the coast up in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, comes my personal comic book blog, primarily related to comic books, as well as movies, books and television. BeachBumComics blog can also be found on Facebook & Pinterest.

Thursday, January 14, 2016

BEWARE THE CLAWS OF - THE CAT !!!

Marvel Comics heroine, The Cat ran four issues, all with various creators. Linda Fite, who married Herb Trimpe, wrote all four issues (along with an unpublished fifth issue) with artists including Marie Severin, Wally Wood, Jim Mooney, Bill Everett, Jim Starlin, Alan Weiss & Frank McLaughlin. John Romita did some of the covers. I had to have it, enjoyed it, because of the Wally Wood art.

Greer Grant was a sophomore at the University of Chicago
when she met her future husband, policeman Bill Nelson. She left
college to marry him. The marriage was a strong one, flawed only by
Bill's overprotective nature. Bill was killed in an off-duty shooting,
and Greer had to find a job of her own. After weeks of searching, she
ran into her old physics professor, Dr. Joanne Tumulo.

Cool fan art of The Cat!

Dr. Tumulo was working on the human potential experiments that turned
Shirlee Bryant into the super powered villainess called The Cat. Not
trusting the test subject chosen by her financial backer, Malcolm
Donalbain, Greer persuaded Dr. Tumulo to let her undergo the
experimental treatments as well. She emerged with superhuman physical
and mental capabilities. When Donalbain had Dr. Tumulo's lab destroyed
with dynamite, Greer donned one of dozens of The Cat costumes that she
had created and the doctor had appropriated and set out to put an end to
his scheme. With her new abilities, she adapted quickly to the strange
garb and wrecked Donalbain's headquarters. Rather than let himself be
touched by the Cat's raking claws, Donalbain committed suicide. A fire
set off by the ruined equipment destroyed Donalbain's headquarters. Greer embarked on a brief crimefighting career as The Cat.

Later, The Cat, Greer Nelson, was transformed by the Cat People into Tigra in Giant-Sized Creatures #1. Tony (Black Lightning) Isabella wrote the story with art by Don (Moon Knight) Perlin & Vince (Thor, New Gods) Colletta.

Terrific Gil Kane & Frank Giacoia cover!

Another of Donalbain's The Cat costumes surfaced years later, when Patsy
Walker discovered it while accompanying the Avengers (#144.) She donned it and
dubbed herself Hellcat.

A fifth issue of the series was drawn by Ramona (Metamorpho) Fradon but the title was canceled due to lack of sales on previous issues. Jim (Spider-Man) Mooney inked what I've seen of the unpublished art.

Striking Romita cover, The Cat included inside!

Original art for The Cat!

Ramona Fradon cover!

Live Large My Friends!Thank You!

Loved the idea and stories included in this series of trade paperbacks!

WEIRD TALES OF THE MACABRE #1

MARVEL PREMIERE #44 FEATURING THE JACK OF HEARTS!

After effecting a rescue at sea, Jack of Hearts is going home, to his estate in Connecticut. Once there, he receives an ominous invitation from Hemlock. Written by Bill Mantlo with art by Keith Giffen & Rudy Nebres. Recommended!

I SPY BY JOHN TIGER

Exciting tie-in novel by Walter (Telefon) Wager, writing as John Tiger, based on the smash TV hit series I Spy.

I SPY MESSAGE FROM MOSCOW BY BRANDON KEITH

Recommended I Spy novel by author of Man from U.N.C.L.E. The Gentle Saboteur Affair & The Affair of the Goldrunner's Gold.

CHARLTON PREMIERE #2 "CHILDREN OF DOOM"

One of my all time favorite comic book stories, by Denny O'Neil & Pat Boyette. Stunnning! Partially in B&W and color!